15. (1) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Chapter deviates from the prescriptions of a sanctioned working plan without the previous sanction of the Forest Officer shall be punishable with fine not exceeding one hundred rupees for the first offence and with fine not exceeding one thousand rupees or simple imprisonment not exceeding three months or both for the second or any subsequent offence.
(2) Offences under this section shall be triable by a Magistrate of the Second or Third class, and proceedings under this section may be instituted on a complaint made by the landlord of the notified area or forest in respect of which the offence is alleged to have been committed or by any right-holder of such a notified area or forest or by the Forest Officer or by any officer specially empowered by the State Government in this behalf.
(3) When any person is convicted of an offence under this section, any trees, timber or other forest produce in respect of which the offence is committed may be liable to forfeiture. If such trees, timber or other forest produce has or have been destroyed or converted or otherwise disposed of by him, the value thereof may be recoverable from him, in the same way as a fine imposed on him under sub-section (1).
(4) Any trees, timber or other forest produce forfeited under this section shall be disposed of in such manner as the Collector may, subject to rules, if any, directs.